The Mother in Law

 The Mother In Law, by Sally Hepworth is an ebook I have had on my Kindle for a while.  I uncovered it when I went looking for a thriller set in Australia in order to fulfill prompts from different challenges using the same book as the month was nearing an end.  This book has quite an intriguing set of characters and a suspenseful story based in Melbourne.   The story bounces back and forth between the present when the matriarch of the family has passed away and into the past at different times to set the stage for the story.    The book grabbed my attention enough to stay up until 2am to finish it on the 2nd day of reading.  I plan to look into other books by Hepworth.  

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this thriller set in Australia. I liked both the suspenseful storyline and the characters developed in the story. The family dynamics in the story are very relatable to many readers I am certain. There are background stories that all weave together to tell a story of relationships and death.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  77
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2023  Book # 8
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #57
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #58
5. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #105  Shot #1
6. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
7. Beat the Backlist #BTB2023  #23 recommended by a bookseller
8. Nerdy Bookworm  #NerdyBookwormChallengeXO #8. Book that is set in the decade you were born in 
9. Nerd Daily #thenerddaily #nerdreading2023 #26. RECOMMENDED BY BOOKSTORE
10. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #21 A book set in the decade you were born
11. Pick your Poison  # 24 A standalone book
12. Read with Allison #17 Bookstore Recommendation:
13. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Jun Set in Australia
14. Diversify your reading #DYRC23  June: Thriller

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

 This is definitely a unique murder mystery.  Full of twists and turns and lots of clues that will have you flipping back pages to see what you missed the first time you read it.  It is also a bit of a how to book as the tone of the narrator will reveal.   I enjoyed this book and am glad I gave it a try.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a clever mystery book. It definitely had its moments of dark humor and plenty of plot twists. It definitely jumped around in time and perspective. If you are looking for a linear murder mystery plot this probably isn’t the book for you. If you are Interested in a clever and unique format that has lots of clues you realize after the fact then you will enjoy this book

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  59
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #   47
3. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Australia
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #52libra
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #45
6. Medical Examiner Challenge 13 Toe Tags
7. 52 Book Club  #the52bookclub2023  #15 Set in Australia
8. Pick your Poison  # 116 A book that employs dark humor
9. Read with Allison #21 Locked Room Mystery
10. Sci and Nature # 16 Set in the Wilderness
11. Beyond the Bookends  May  Detective Story
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge June: Books Set in Australia & New Zealand
13. TBRChallenge  #TBRChallenge May Freebie

Manor of Dying

 I forgot how much I enjoyed the first 3 books in this series by Kathleen Bridge.  I had begun reading her Killing by the Sea series because they were available as ebooks vs audio which is the only format my library carries the Hamptons Home and Gardens series.  Manor of Dying finds Meg and her bff, Elle, involved in the staging of a tv pilot.  The prospect of working on the show and having a steady paycheck is appealing to Meg.  It doesn't hurt that the home to be the setting has a history as a sanatorium and the site of a murder.  The intrigue becomes all too real when a modern day murder occurs while trapped during a storm.  The clues are there but don't point to the guilty party in an obvious manner so Meg continues to poke around.  

Adding to the story's complexity is the fact it is the holiday season and she keeps having her plans with her boyfriend, Cole,  waylaid by Mother Nature.  Then the romantic trope gets more interesting as she realizes her mystery sand writing poet is also the author of the manuscript.  As she spends time with him she feels herself torn between his prescence and Cole's absence.  It all makes for a New Year's Eve to remember.  I am curious to see how that storyline plays out in the next installment of the series.  

Manor of Dying by Kathleen Bridge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read especially for fans of decorating and antiques. This book also touches on some pop culture references such as reality tv and period tv shows. The mystery is well written and the clues present but very subtle. The reveal is more about the why to explain vs the clues.

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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Goodreads and Reading by the Numbers #ReadingByNumbers2023 Book #  53
2. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  41 
3. Audiobook  #2023AudiobookChallenge 7 
4. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2023  Hampton Home and Gardens #4
5. Stacking the Series  #stackingseries2023 4
6. Series Catchup #seriescatchup2023 1
7. Color Coded #7  white
8. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2023   Book #46
9. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #41
10. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #21
11. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #41
12. Craving for Cozies  Book #36
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #12  Shot #6
14. Medical Examiner Challenge 3 Toe Tags
15. Pick your Poison  # 28 A book that makes you think of warm fires and cozy beds
16. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge   Apr Set on an Island- Long Island

Violeta

 Violeta by Isabel Allende was a selection for my book club this year and it fit several prompts for different challenges perfectly.  This was my first book by Allende and I will be reading more works by her in the future for sure.  Overall I really liked the way she combines character development and story action.  My only real complaint was the ending of the book felt as though she was throwing as many possible social issues into the story as possible rather than sticking to the main plotline that centered around the Chilean political uprising and the general US involvement in Latin American politics.  The story is an amazing saga of the family and all it underwent over the course of Violetta's lifetime.  

Violeta by Isabel Allende
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

fantastic epic historical novel

This is such a beautiful mix of description and characters. The history of Chile and S America that is revisited in this novel is an astonishing reminder of how much has changed in the world and how often it repeats in a different manner. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is the last portion felt as though all the faults in the world had to be thrown into the storyline/Violeta’s reflection letter. It just felt a bit contrived at that point whereas the rest of the book had felt authentic without lecturing til then. I am glad I went back and finished this book after having begun earlier in the year


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Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book #  101 
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Chile
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #125
4. Historic Fiction  #histficreadingchallenge   Book #13
5. Around the Year in 52 Books # 38. A book by a Latin American author
6. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  # 23. A Book Everyone is Talking About 
7. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #30 translated to your native language
8. Nerd Daily  #NERDREADING2022 #21 a book you never finished 
9. Pick your Poison #97 a book about a pandemic
10. Beyond the Bookends  December- Read a family drama
11. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  December: Books Spanning Multiple Continents
12. Diversify your reading #DYRC22  Dec Historic Fiction
13. Lifetime of Reading  multi generational
14. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2022  #5 hiking

Book Voyaging 23

   

Another year of Reading around the world awaits in the BookList Girls Book Voyage challenge.  The schedule has changed up in order to spread out some of the more challenging reads.  This page contains links to book lists contained on their blog so it is a great resource for ideas.  If you would like to sign up here's the link.  

JANUARY: BOOKS SET IN THE ARCTIC OR ANTARCTICA

FEBRUARY
Book list to be updated 1/20/2023
Books Set in Western Europe

1. Dead Heat by Dick Francis and Felix Francis
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 2/14/23

MARCH
Book list to be updated 2/20/2023
Books Set in Africa

1. Don't Look Behind You! A Safari Guide's Encounters with Ravenous Lions, Stampeding Elephants, and Lovesick Rhinos  by Peter Allison
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 5/18/23

APRIL
Book list to be updated 3/20/2023
Books set on Islands

1. Manor of Dying (Hamptons Home & Garden #4) by Kathleen Bridge
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 4/17/23

MAY
Book list to be updated 4/20/2023
Eastern Europe

JUNE
Book list to be updated 5/20/2023
Books Set in Australia

1. The Mother in Law by Sally Hepworth
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 6/21/23
2. Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (Ernest Cunningham, #1) by Benjamin Stevenson
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 5/5/23

JULY
Book list to be updated 6/20/2023
Books Set in Southern Asia

1.  Meddling and Murder (Singapore Mystery #4) Ovidia Yu
• Blog Post and Goodreads Review 10/9/23

AUGUST
Book list to be updated 7/20/2023
Books Set in Northern Asia

SEPTEMBER
Book list to be updated 8/20/2023
Books Set on a Mode of Transporation (Boat, Train, etc)

OCTOBER
Book list to be updated 9/20/2023
Books set in the Middle East

NOVEMBER
Book list to be updated 10/20/2023
Books Set in North America

DECEMBER
Book list to be updated 11/20/2023
Books Set in South America

BONUS PROMPT
Books Spanning Multiple Continents

Christmas, Criminals and Campers

 Christmas, Criminals and Campers is the 4th book in the Camper and Criminals series by Tonya Kappes.  If you are looking for a series with quirky and somewhat humourous undertones this is a great series to pick up.  The mysteries are well-constructed and not too obvious to solve.   Mae West is a hoot and it's fun watching her try to settle into her new lifestyle in KY.   The campground aspect appeals to me as my parents have had an RV for the last dozen or so years so I have seen some of the aspects of that life that pop up in the story.  There are definitely relationship progressions captured in the stories and I appreciate they aren't all rainbows and sunshine but rather more like real life with mixed emotions between parties.  I plan to read much more of this series next year which is readily doable since it is in Kindle Unlimited.  

Christmas, Criminals, and Campers by Tonya Kappes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great characters and mystery

Mae West is an authentic woman who expresses herself without thinking. This book finds her dealing with a new relationship as well as dealing with family members from her past. All while trying to clear her friend of murder. The conflicts and emotions feel authentic and believable. If you are looking for a series with fun female characters and a few laughs this series is for you

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  KY 
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 52 Book #1
3. What an Animal Book #55
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #119
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #89
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #86
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #114
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #104
9. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- library
• Weapon- poison
• Detectives- Mae West
• Victims- Nadine White
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #23  Shot #4
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

Final Fondue

 This is the 3rd book in the 5 ingredient mystery series by Maya Corrigan.  This series is heavy on character relationships and that really adds to the appeal.   The main and recurring relationship is between Val Deniston and her grandfather.   This is a realistic representation of a relationship between a grown woman and her grandfather.  Particularly the aspects where he is still trying to tell her how to live her life even if he means well.   The book is rife with misunderstandings and people jumping to conclusions; particularly when past events are clouding their judgments.  

Final Fondue by Maya Corrigan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a cleverly written cozy with several red herrings that keep the reader guessing until the end about the guilty party. I liked the references to Hitchcock movies that are interwoven into the storyline. The characters in the story are all dealing with things in their pasts that are well conceived and the characters' reactions feel very appropriate and authentic.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:51  Book #1
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book # 111
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #86
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #84
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #112
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #102
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- garden
• Weapon- rope
• Detectives- Val Deniston
• Victims- Fawn Finchley
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #54  Shot #2
10. BooklistQueen  #booklistqueenreadingchallenge2022  # 19. Bottom of Your To-Read List
11. Nancy Drew #2 read a book that has been hidden on your TBR list
12. Pick your Poison #45 a book with a  picture of a cliff or ocean on the cover
13. Monthly Keyword #MonthlyKeyWordGXO
14. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America
15. Lifetime of Reading  80s grandpa

Butter Off Dead

 

Butter Off Dead is the 3rd book in the Food Lover's Village Series by Leslie Budewitz.  This series set in Montana is full of descriptions of the nature surrounding the area.  This narrative, as well as the variety of characters contained within the plot, make for a very engaging read.   The author's writing creates a movie in the readers' minds that allows them to experience the Jewel Bay stores and residents just as if they were there in real life.  I look forward to exploring the town more as the series continues.

Butter Off Dead by Leslie Budewitz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Good book but is a bit outlandish in some of the plot lines and I did predict the outcomes quite early. I still liked the characters and enjoyed hearing all about the delicacies sold at the Merc. The descriptions of the film and food festival were very well written and made it easy to visualize. Along with the descriptions of Montana wilderness. I liked the aspect of supporting new businesses and their development. As well the explanations about the reintroduction of wolves into the wilderness and the controversy. The book definitely incorporates a lot of topics and information

View all my reviews

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 96  
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes   MT
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 43 Book #1
4. What an Animal Book #54
5. Audiobook  #2022AudiobookChallenge 9
6. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #117
7. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #85
8. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #83
9. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #111
10. Craving for Cozies  Book #101
11. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
12. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- studio; road
• Weapon- shot; car 
• Detectives- Erin Murphy
• Victims- Christine Vandeberg;  Mr Murphy
13. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #14  Shot #4
14. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America
15. Pick your Poison #24 a book to pass the time while your favorite author finishes their next book

A Deadly Deletion

This is the 15th book in the series and while I did enjoy this book the motive behind the killing was a bit outlandish in many ways.  I also found the behaviors of Angelica and her son to be very immature and shallow but they are feasible responses to family disagreements when emotions flare.  If the intention was to annoy the reader then the role was well done in this case.  I suspect this series may be finding itself coming to a natural end soon as there are not many more regulars or suitors left between victims and criminals.  

A Deadly Deletion by Lorna Barrett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A well-constructed mystery that has many recurring characters. There are several suspects in multiple crimes affecting Tricia Miles and her family. The characters and their relationships are a central part of the story dynamics. Be aware you don’t want to read this book if you have not read the previous books in the series as there are spoilers in the story. I look forward to seeing how Booktown continues to progress hopefully not quite as far-fetched in motive as this one

View all my reviews 

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 94  
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  NH
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 42 Book #1
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #115
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #81
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #109
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #99
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 5 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- road; woods; woods; road
• Weapon- car; hit; beat; motorcycle acc
• Detectives- Tricia Miles
• Victims- Marshall Cambridge; Mark Jameson; Tyler Holden; Ashley Emery
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 62 Shot #4
11. OWLS #58 Switching Spell: A book whose cover and dust jacket are different colors
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge N America

Swimming with the Fishes

 I really am enjoying the Ozark Lakes series it is such a unique approach to the cozy genre. There's a male author for one but Marc Jedel writes from a dual narrator approach.   This means there is a female and a male sleuth who are newlyweds.   I appreciate that the MC doesn't have a divided love interest or unrequited attention.   The setting on a farm makes for some interesting scenes and locales.  I truly hope the author continues with the series and I am definitely inclined to try his Silicon Valley series as well.  If Swimming with the Fishes is any indication they will be well-written mysteries with great inter dynamics between characters.  

Swimming with the Fishes by Marc Jedel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

fun cozy with a male detective

This series has a different take on narration than most cozies. It alternates between Jonas and Elizabeth. This book had a great development of more characters in the town as Elizabeth is reconnecting with HS friends at her 10 year reunion. I like the format of the book but I found I don’t care for some of Elizabeth’s traits in this book. She seemed a bit immature and whiny in this book. I hope it’s just a temporary thing as I don’t remember her being like this in the first book. The mystery is well constructed and the guilty party is quite well concealed until the reveal

View all my reviews

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  AR
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 47 Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #114
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #80
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #108
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #98d5
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- lake
• Weapon- explosion
• Detectives- Elizabeth and Jonas
• Victims- Courtney Stanton
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 69 Shot #2
10. Pick your Poison #45 a book with a picture of a cliff or ocean on the cover
11. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge N America

Black Dog

 Black Dog is Stone Barrington #62 and has introduced a new dynamic to the series that will be interesting to see as the series moves forward.  I enjoyed the storyline and appreciated that there was less of Stone's normal bed-hopping.  I cannot wait for the next book to see where the cliff hanger from this book leads to in the storyline.  

Black Dog by Stuart Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A good plot with intricacies that vary from a normal Stone Barrington book. A bit of the bedroom romps but there are less than norm. There is an interesting cliffhanger that makes me want the new book to arrive ASAP.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 93
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series:11  Book #3
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #113
4. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #107
5. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
6. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- apt
• Weapon- shot
• Detectives- Stone
• Victims- 
7. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 5 Shot #5
8. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

Booked for Trouble

 Booked for Trouble is the 2nd book in the lighthouse library series.  It is set in a charming locale in Nags Head, NC, and is full of descriptions of library activities.  Anyone who has spent any real time at libraries and experienced the different types of programming will relate to many of the subplot arcs.  Any female readers who have a somewhat tenuous relationship with their mother can relate to the characters in this story as well.   The mystery was quite a surprise to me and I was thoroughly happy with the outcome.    

Booked for Trouble by Eva Gates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

great mother daughter dynamics

This next Lighthouse mystery book was well written and the mystery quite shocking when it was revealed. Even more intriguing though are the characters and their relationships. There are some quirky personalities in the book and it is enjoyable to read about their interactions and behaviors. Makes for a delightful book


View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 48  Book #1
2. What an Animal Book #53
3. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book #10
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #83
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #79
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #106
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #97
8. Medical Examiner Challenge  1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- lighthouse
• Weapon- hit
• Detectives- Lucy Richardson
• Victims- Karen Kivas
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #58 Shot #2
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #30. A book with the name of a board game in the title 
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

A Pairing to Die For

 A Pairing to Die For is the 2nd installment in the Colorado Wine series by Kate Lansing.  This latest book has a well-developed mystery but its real strength is in the characters relationships.  This story characteristic is very appealing and makes the series very relatable and intriguing.  Wine lovers will especially like this series and may learn something about the winemaking process.  Foodies will also find a few dining references as well but the focus is definitely on wine.  

A Pairing to Die For by Kate Lansing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A cozy that has a well-constructed mystery. In addition to clues that make sense when all are revealed there are some serious family dynamics going in. Both Parker and Reid have some difficulty relating to their family. Reid’s family is just downright dysfunctional and Parker is trying to find her way to gain approval from her mother. Both struggle for acceptance for following their passions and starting their own businesses. Those businesses provide a wonderful backdrop to the story with plenty of delicious recipe descriptions and wine explanations. Overall a great series with complex character relationships that look to have longevity in future books

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 91
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 49  Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #111
4. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #81
5. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #77
6. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #104
7. Craving for Cozies  Book #95
8. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
9. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- alley
• Weapon- knife
• Detectives- Parker Valentine
• Victims- Oscar Flores
10. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #49  Shot #2
11. Uncorked Reader #UncorkedReading2022 #3 set in a vineyard/wine books
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

A Fatal Booking

 

A Fatal Booking centers around Chapters B&B as the hostess Charlotte and her staff and friends investigate the mysterious death of one of her guests.  The plot has some slightly outrageous aspects that do not detract from the story because they are part of the backstory of characters rather than a current occupation.  The interweaving of the different characters and suspects make for a very enjoyable story that keeps the reader in suspense and guessing as to who is the guilty party and what their motivation is.  I do like the character development and how they are growing in their goals and aspirations.  

A Fatal Booking by Victoria Gilbert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great series with a cast of strong females of varying ages. The book mixes literary references into the story as part. Of the B&Bs theme and specialty. Charlotte and the ensemble cast are a great group of amateur detectives who cooperate with the authorities. The espionage backgrounds of characters adds an interesting flair

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 90
2. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 50 Book #1
3. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #110
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #76
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #103
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #94
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 1 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- garden
• Weapon- poison
• Detectives- Charlotte
• Victims- Stacy Wilkins
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #47  Shot #3
10. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

Comic Sans Murder

 Comic Sans Murder is the 3rd Dangerous Type mystery by Paige Shelton.  It is set in a mountain resort town near Salt Lake City.  This book played off more of the location in its storyline than some of the previous books.  The mystery was quite involved and kept me guessing until the very end.   Really liking the series and how it focuses on a rather obscure subject vs a typical bakery/restaurant etc.   The printing/typesetting business is a unique and interesting topic that is enjoyable to read and learn about.  Perhaps this enjoyment comes from my scrapbooking interests which has a design and layout aspect to it for sure.  Plus lots of different fonts are used when doing digital scrapbooking for sure.  

Comic Sans Murder by Paige Shelton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

enjoyable cozy set in the mountains of Utah. The family dynamics are a pleasant addition to the storyline and not just the MC and her family but also her BFF and her brother's relationship. It's both personal and professional amongst them. There is a unique side topic of typesetting and printing in this series which makes it different from most other cozy mysteries. I look forward to reading more of the series.

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Library Love  #LibraryLoveChallenge  Book # 88
2. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  UT
3. Finishing the Series   #FinishingTheSeries2022  Series: 44 Book #1
4. Virtual Mount TBR #VirtualMountTBR2022   Book #108
5. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #79
6. Cruisin thru Cozies  Free choice #74
7. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #101
8. Craving for Cozies  Book #92
9. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
10. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene- factory; ski slope
• Weapon- strangled; shot
• Detectives- Fred
• Victims- Donte Serot; Lloyd Gavin
11. Six Shooter Challenge  Target # 36 Shot #3
12. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  N America

Death on the Danube

 I decided to read Death on the Danube this month because I needed to complete a book for Book Voyage Challenge that was set in Russia or Eastern Europe.  I planned to read Midnight in Chernobyl but realized I would not complete it in time.  I am still progressing on that book but it will go into April.  

This is the first book in the  Travel Can be Murder series by  Jennifer S. Alderson.  I really enjoyed the book and the wonderful descriptions of Budapest that were included in the story.  The mystery was well constructed and the characters were realistic.  I look forward to reading more in the series, particularly since it is in Kindle Unlimited.

This is a great series if you like to travel, either IRL or vicariously through your reading.  

 

Death on the Danube: A New Year's Murder in Budapest by Jennifer S. Alderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great cozy mystery especially for readers who enjoy reading about foreign locations. The wonderful descriptions of Budapest reinforces my desire to visit there. The structure of the mystery was well done and although the clues pointing to the guilty party were present it wasn’t immediately obvious. It is easy to have emotional responses to the characters, both warmth for the Fab Five and the Hendersons. Jess and Tom and Helen are quite easy to dislike as is Carl. I look forward to reading about more of Lana’s adventures

View all my reviews

Challenge Prompts

The Challenge Prompts I will use this for are:  

1. Literary Escapes  #LiteraryEscapes  Budapest, Hungary
2. Mount TBR   #MountTBR2022  Book #5
3. Back List Reader  #Backlistreader  Book #26
4. Cruisin thru Cozies  Travel  #2
5. Cloak & Dagger  #CloakDaggerChal  Book #35
6. Craving for Cozies  Book #34
7. Medical Examiner Challenge 2 Toe Tags
8. Beachcomber Challenge  
• Crime Scene-river; cruise boat
• Weapon- hit; poison
• Detectives- Lana  Hansen
• Victims- Carl;  Margret Henderson
9. Six Shooter Challenge  Target #  77 Shot #1
10. Beat the Backlist #BTB2022  #34 forgotten on your shelf or ereader
11. PopSugar #popsugarreadingchallenge #8. A book with a protagonist who uses a mobility aid
12. Nancy Drew #13. The Mystery of the Ivory Charm (1936) - read a book with a lot of white on the cover
13. OWLS 22  #6 Arithmancy: A book with a number on the cover or in the title
14. Book Voyage  #bookvoyagechallenge  Bucarest, Hungary
15. 52 books in 52 weeks  #23 free space